Tractor transmission device.



E. T. CRELLIN.

TRACTOR TRANSMISSION DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15. 1917- lPatented May 6, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET l- E. T. CRELLIN. TRACTOR TRANSMISSION DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15 I5?- 1,302,769, Patented May 6, 1919.

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EDWARD T. URJEIILIN, F FENDER, NEBM$ 1: a

TRACTOR, TRSMlESfiION DEVICE.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented ltltay h, 191% application filed September 15, 1917. Serial 1110'. 191,601.

7:0 all whom it may concern Be it known that l, EDWARD T. CRELLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fender, in the county of Thurston and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful llmprovements in Tractor Transmisslon Devices; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to tractor transmission devices, and is more particularly designed for tractors employed in agricultural pursuits, though the same is not restricted to this specific use as the .sameiis capable of being readily employed upon any of the well known self propelled vehicles.

"One of the objects of my invention is to produce a device of this character that is capable of turning sharp corners in either direction by the specific operations of the traction wheels in addition to the tractor steering mechanisms.

Another object of my invention is to so construct the tractor that the engine and the transmission mechanisms are located in proximity to the traction wheels so that the weight of the engine and the transmission mechanisms are borne by the traction wheels and at the same time provide for the employment of shorter shafts for preventing loss of the engine power which is the case when longer shafts have to be employed.

Another object of this invention is to provide independent operating means for each of the traction wheels whereby the traction wheels may be simultaneously operated in forward direction or rearward direction, or

the traction wheels operated in reverse directions to each other, or one traction wheel maintained in neutral position While the other is being operated in either forward or rearward direction.

Another object of this invention is to provide independently operable frictional transmission members which are mounted in a manner to be bodily slid-able with their shafts and with respect to the engine shaft so as to obviate the necessity of feathered or slidably keyed gearing and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide shifting levers for the slidablemountings of the friction members and positioning the same within easy reach of the operator of the tractor and toprovide-resilient con 7 nections between the shifting levers and the mountings for the frictional members whereby to maintain the frictional members in resilient and constant engagement with the friction members upon the engine shaft.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tractor and the transmission mechanism therefor which consists of few parts, strong and durable, eflicient in operations, free from excessive strains and wear, and economical to manufacture and maintain.

These and other objects and advantages will more fully appear as the nature of the invention is more clearly understood from the following description taken in connec tion with the accompanying drawings wherein there is disclosed one embodiment of the invention, but which is susceptible to numerous variations and alterations in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts to meet the exigencies of the case without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.

lin the drawings:

Figure l is a top view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof with one of the traction wheels removed.

Fig.- 3 a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrow, showing the detail construction of one of the rocking levers employed.

Fig. 1 is a sectional view on line H of Fig. l, and looking in the direction of the arrow, showing the detail construction of the mounting of the frictional transmission members.

Referring to the drawings, wherein simi-' lar reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the frame of the tractor consists of the front rail 1, the side. rails '2 which are provided with the converging rearwardly extending rails 3 which terminate in the circular rear end portion 4 in which is revolubly mounted the guide wheel post 5 carrying the guide wheel 6 and provided with the tiller wheel 7 connected by the chain 8 with the sprocket wheel 9 upon the lowercnd of the shaft 10 provided at its upper end with the steering wheel 11, the shaft 10 passing upwardly through the platform 12 upon this end of the frame which has suitably secured thereon the seat 13.

lVhile the left hand half and the right hand half of the machine are similarly constructed separate reference characters will be employed for the sake of clearnes s in illustrating the invention and describing the operation thereof and wherein the left hand side of the machine will be first described. Extending longitudinally through the substantially central portion of the frame from the rear end to the forward end thereof are the parallel spaced bars 14 and 15 having their central portions reinforced by the cross bars 16 and 17 and suitably mounted in the forward portion of the frame between the rail land the bars 14, 15 and 17 is the frame 18 for supporting any well known type oftwo cylinder engine (not shown). However, the crank shaft 19 of the engine is shown suitabl journaled upon the bars 14 and 15 and tie'frame 18, the crank shaft 19 being disposed transversely of the machine and having suitably mounted upon its ends'the beveled friction driving wheels 20 and 21, preferably formed of fiber.

Adapted to be driven by the friction wheel 20 are the metal beveled friction wheels 22 and 23 rigidly secured upon the shaft 24 mounted in the bearings 25 upon the slidable 'plate 26 which is moved longitudinally backward and forward in a manner to be hereinafter described. The shaft 24 has the telescopic connection 27 with the stub shaft 28 suitably journaled upon the cross bar 29 of the frame and provided with the beveled gear 30 which meshes with the beveled gear 31 on the counter shaft 32 upon the frame in a transverse direction and has upon its outer end the gear pinion 33 in mesh with the gear wheel 34 of the left hand traction wheel 35 which is revolubly but loosely mounted upon one end of the axle 36 which extends entirely across and is secured in any suitable manner upon the under side of the machine.

The plate 26 is preferably formed of a heavy casting and formed with the cutaway or slotted portion'37 for accommodating the wheels 22 and 23 and is provided at its side edges with the tongues 38 which are slidably mounted in the groove 39 formed in the side of formed in the side of the bar 41 which extends from the strut 42 to the strut 43. Upon the rear end of the plate 26 are the ears 44 to which are pivotally connected one end of the links 45 which have their opposite ends pivotally connected to the legs 46 of the bifurcated rocking lever 47 havin its furcations centrally pivotally mount upon the spaced brackets 48 having their respective ends suitably secured upon the strut 43 and the strut 49 of the frame. For rocking the rocking lever 47 for moving the sliding plate 26 to and fro the rod 50 is provided and has its forward end slidably mounted through the upper portion of the rocking lever 47, the end portion of the rod 50 being provided with spaced threaded suitably ournaled the bar 14 and the groove 40' portions upon which are threaded the nuts 51 in spaced relation to each other and at either side ofthe rocking lever 47 and interposed between the nuts 51 and the adjacent faces of the lever 47 are the springs 52 for establishing an adjustable resilient connection between this end of the rod 50 and the upper portion of the rocking lever 47. 'The rear end portion of the rod 50 is formed with the angle member 53 and has its rear end pivotally connected to the operating lever 54 which is pivotally mounted upon the segmental rack 55 suitably secured upon the bar 14 and at the left side of the platform 12,the lever 54 being provided with the thumb latch 56 for engaging the teeth of the segmental rack 55.

I will now describe the construction of the right hand half of the machine. Adapted to be driven by the friction wheel 21 are the metal beveled friction wheels 62 and 63 rigidly secured upon the shaft 64 mounted in the bearings 65 upon the slidable plate 66 which is moved longitudinally backward and forward in a manner to be hereinafter described. The shaft 64 has the telescopic connection 67 withthe stub shaft 68 suitably journaled upon the cross bar 69 of the frame and provided with the beveled gear 70 which meshes with the beveled gear 71 on the counter shaft 72 suitably journaled upon the frame in a transverse direction and has upon its outer end the gear pinion 73 in mesh with the gear wheel 74 of the right hand traction wheel 75 which is revolubly but loosely mounted upon the other end of the axle 36 which, as before stated, extends entirely across and is secured in any suitable mannerupon the under side of the machine.

e plate 66 is referably formed of a heavy casting and formed with the cutaway or slotted portion 77 for accommodating the wheels 62 and 63 and is provided at its side edges with the tongues 78 which are slidably mounted in the groove 79 formed in the side of the bar 15 and the groove 80 formed in the side of the bar 81 which extends from the strut 82 to the strut 83. Upon the rear end of the plate 66 are the ears 84 to which are pivotally'connected one end of the links 85 which have their opposite ends pivotally connected to the legs 86 of the bifurcated rocking lever 87 having its furcations centrally pivotally mounted upon the spaced brackets 88 having their respective ends suitably secured upon the strut 83 and the strut 89 of the frame. For rocking'the rocking lever 87 for moving the sliding plate 66 to and fro the rod 90 is provided and has its forward end slidably mounted through the upper portion of the rocking lever 87, the end portion of the rod 90 being provided with spaced threaded portions upon which are threaded the nuts 91 in spaced relation to each other and at either side of the rockmounted upon the segmental rack 95 suitreoavee ing lever 87 and interposed between the nuts plates 26 and 66 rearwardly for causing the 91 and the adjacent faces of the lever 87 wheels 22 and 62 to engage the wheels 20 and are the springs 92 for establishing an adjust- 21 of the engine shaft 19 and in this in able resilient connection between this end'of stance the shafts 24: and 6t and the counter the rod 90 and the upper portion of the rockshafts 32 and 7 2 will be revolved in the ing lever 87. The rear end portion of the opposite direction to that above set forth rod 90 is formed with 'the angle member for driving the machine forwardly and the 93 and hasits rear end pivotally connected gear wheels 34 and 74: together with the tranto the operating lever 94: which is pivotally tion wheels 35 and 7 5 will be driven rearwardly. ably secured upon the bar 15 and at the right Any suitable form of changeable speed side of the platform 12,'the lever 94 being mechanisms may be employed at any suitprovided with the thumb latch 96 for engagable points between the engine shaft 19 and ing the teeth of the segmental rack 95. the traction wheels 35 and 75, and while I The operation of the machine will be h e how the beveled g ar 80, 31 and briefly described as follows: 7 0, 71 for connecting the stub shafts 28 and As g the engine Shaft 19 be b 68 with the counter shafts 32and 72 I may ing in the direction indicated by the arrow emp10y any it bl -f f w rm gearing and it is desirous of driving the machine or other suitable connections between these in a forward direction the levers 54; and 9-1 arts, and I may also employ chain and are thrown in a forwardly direction by th sprocket connections between the counter operator which slides the plates 26 and 66 hafts 32 and '12 and the traction wheels 35 forwardly which brings the beveled wheels d in li f th pinions 33 and73and 23 and 63 in engagement with the beveled the gea wheelg 34C and 74 shown in the wheels 20 and 21 of the engine shaft 19, drawings. whereby power will be imparted to the 1 preferably form the beveled friction shafts 24c and 64 and to the counter shafts h l 20 d 21 f fib and the b veled 32 and 'Z'Qand thence to the gear wheels 3 t f i ti n h l 22 23 nd 62, 63 of metal and 74c-which will drive the traction wheels as thi tt i th best sults, th ugh othe 35 and 75 forwardly. Should it be desirable materials may be employed if desired. t0 turn the machine to the left I'I'IOIB acutely Instead of forming the plates 26 and 66 than can be attained by operating the steerwith the tongues upon their side edges, the ing mechanisms, the operator will draw the lat may h ad thicker and their side lever 54 rearwardly to its neutral point edges f d it grooms so h t h l t which movement will position the wheels 26 d 66 will slidably embrace the adjacent 23 and 22 equally spaced from the wheelQO bars nd thereby dispense with the grooves of the engine shaft 19 whereby the traction in th b r a r wheel 35 will remain stationary Wh l While 1 have shown the tractorconstruetthe traction wheel 7 5 continues forwardly. d ith the traction wheels at the front of Should it be desirable, however, o turn the machine and the steering wheel at the more acutely than can be done with this oprear, I may also construct the machine with eration the operator will move the lever 5% the traction wheels at the rear and the steersuiiicientlyrearwardly for causing the wheel ing wheel at the front, or if may provide 22 to engage the wheel 20 of theengine shaft th machine with four wheels in tead of 19 and in this instance the shafts 24: and 32 three as shown, and in any casethe frame will be revolved in the opposite direction is mounted at a substantial height h th and likewise the gear wheel 34- of the tracground so that, a plow or other farm mation wheel 35 so that the traction wheel 35 chinery may be secured to the under side of will now be driven rearwardly and thereby]- the frame and preferably in close proximity cause the machine to make a much shorter to the traction wheels. turn. Should it be desirable to turn to the Having described my invention, what I right, assuming that the lever 54 is now claim as new and desire to secure by Letters thrown forward for driving the traction Patent, is: y I wheel 35 in a forward direction, the lever 9 L 1. lln a device of the character specified, may be thrown rearward to neutral for the combination of a frame, traction wheels 'maintaining the wheels 62 and 63in spaced upon said frame, a motor upon said frame,

relation to the wheel 21 of the engine shaft a transmission mechanism interposed be- 19, or the lever 94 may bethrown still fartween each of said traction wheels and said ther rearward for causing the wheel 62 to motor, supporting plates for driving memengage the wheel 21 for driving the traction bers of said transmission mechanism slidwheel 7 5 rearwardly While the traction ably mounted upon said frame, and means wheel 35 is still'movmg in a forwardly difor actuating said supporting plates and rection. Should it be desirable to move the driving membersof said transmission mechmachinerearwardly the levers 54: and 94 are anism independently of each other for drivboth thrown rearw-ard'lg' for sliding the ing said traction wheels.

CTL

2. In a device of the character specified, the combination of a frame, traction wheels upon saidframe, a motor upon said frame, longitudinal guideways within said frame, elongated plates slidably mounted within said guideways, transmission mechanisms interposed between said traction wheels and said motor, and having driving members carried by said plates, and means for actuating said supporting plates together with said members independently of each other for driving said traction wheels.

3. In a device of the character specified, the combination of a frame, traction wheels upon said frame, a motor upon said frame, guideways within said frame, plates slidably mounted within said guideways, driving members carried by said plates, transmission mechanisms between said driving members and the traction wheels, operating rods for actuating said plates together with said members, and resilient connections between said operating rods and plates to provide cushioning members therebetween.

4. In a device of the character specified, the combination of a frame, traction wheels upon said frame, a motor, countershafts upon said frameoperatively connected with said traction wheels, stub shafts operatively connected with said countershafts, driving mechanisms interposed between said motor and said stub shafts, telescopic connections 'stub shafts, guideways upon said frame,

plates slidably mounted in said guideways and carrying said driving mechanisms for transmitting power to said traction wheels for driving the latter in either direction, and a manually operable steering wheel revoluble upon a vertical axis and provided with a guide wheel to coiiperate with said traction wheels to turn the device.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD T. CRELLIN.

Witnesses:

JOHN C. LAUGHLIN, E. G. HANCOCK. 

